Life-saving apparatus.



G. F. BIRMINGHAM.

LIFE SAVING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE a, 1913.

1,091,909; Patented Mar. 31, 1914.

` CDLUMBIA PLANounArH CO.. WASHINGTON. n.4:

UNFD STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE F. BIRMINGHAM, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

LIFE-SAVING APPARATUS.

Application filed J' une 3, 1913.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, GEORGE F. BIRMING- HAM, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State ofMissouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Life-Saving Apparatus; and l do declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters andfigures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

My invention relates to a safety device for swimming pools, and has forits principal object to provide a false bottom for a swimming pool,which may be raised to the surface of the pool in order to save a personin danger of drowning.

In accomplishing this object, l have provided improved details ofstructure hereinafter described, and illust-rated in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein z- Figure l is a .perspective view of a swimming poolequipped with a safety device constructed according to my invention, thepool being shown as of graduated depth, although the apparatus isadapted for use with those of other construction. Fig. II is alongitudinal section of the parts shown in Fig. I. Fig. IH is a detailperspective of a corner of the safety device showing its connection witha supporting cable.

Referring more in detail to the parts:- l designates a swimming pool ofordinary construction, and shown as having an inclined bottom 2, inorder that the pool may have varying depth. Located adjacent the pool,preferably at the ends thereof, are supporting devices, illustrated asdavits 3, having shafts d, journaled therein and provided withwindlasses 5; each shaft being preferably provided with actuatingmechanism 6, and preferably with a motor 7, so that the shafts may berevolved separately. Each shaft 4 is preferably provided with a pair ofwindlasses 5, and fixed on each windlass is a cable 8, .which is adaptedto hang freely within the end of the pool and support the safety device.

The preferred construction of the safety device comprises a channel ironframe 9, which is sufficiently smaller than the pool Specification ofLetters Patent.

Patented Mar. 31, 1914.

Serial No. 771,402.

to enable the frame to ride freely therein, but which lies sufficientlyclose to the side edges to prevent the body of a person passing betweenthe edge of the frame and the wall of the pool; the top of the framebeing covered with heavy wire mesh, or cross-rods 10, through which thewater may pass freely when the device is being lowered or raised, butwhich will support a person thereon.

The ends of the frame 9 are set in from the ends of the pool a greaterdistance than the sides, and hingedly connected with each end of theframe is a hanger 1l, also preferably constructed ofy channel iron ofthe same width as that used in the main frame, each end hanger beingconnected with the cables 8 at that end of the tank so that when thedavit shafts are revolved, the cables will wind on the windlass andelevate the frame, and vice-versa; it being apparent that when the frameis set on the bottom of the pool the end hangers will drop down on theirhinged means, but when the cables are wound. on their windlasses, theend hangers will be swung up to form stops at the ends of the frame.

ln using the device, presuming the parts to be assembled and constructedas described, with the frame on the bottom of a pool, should a personsink in the pool, he may be easily and quickly rescued by lifting thefalse bottom through the windlass construction, so that his body isbrought to the surface of the water without delay, or should a personunable to swim go beyond his depth in the pool, the bottom may be liftedin order to save him from drowning.

It is apparent that by lhaving separate and independent supports atopposite ends of the pool, that the cable at each end may be woundindependently, so that the low end may be raised to a level with theother, and both ends then raised together.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, anddesire to secure by Letters-Patent, is

1. A safety device for swimming pools, comprising a. false bottomadapted for support above the main bottom of the pool, hangers hingedlyconnected with opposite ends of said false bottom, and independentlifting devices connected with the respective hangers.

2. A safety device for swimming pools, comprising a false bottom adaptedfor support above the main bottom of the pool7 In testimony whereof Iatxmy signature hangers hiigpdlly connected with opposite in presence oftvvo Witnesses.

ends of sai a se bottom, and independent w lifting devices connectedwith the respec- GEORGE F BIRMNGHAM' tive hangers, and adapted forprojection lVtnesses: 1 above the false bottom, When the latter is C. C.GRAVES, lifted, for the purpose set forth. ARTHUR W. CAPS.

Copies ot this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents;4

' Washington, D. C.

